Merchant or Third Party Controlled Environmental Adjustment Devices

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are provided to allow for merchant or third party controlled adjustment of a physical environment around a user. Such adjustments may be in response to user actions and may create a more immerse experience for the user. Such adjustments may be determined from interaction data received from a user device, with may identify a service provider, a product, or an activity that the user is currently engaging in or is interested in. One or more secondary devices may be identified to be within an area around the user device and one or more environmental rules associated with the service provider, product, or activity may be determined and communicated to the one or more secondary devices to cause the one or more secondary devices to adjust a physical environment of the area proximate the user device.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to adjusting physicalenvironmental parameters with secondary devices, and more particularly,to adjusting the physical environmental parameters through rulesdetermined based on interactions on user computing devices, according tovarious embodiments.

Related Art

Physical environments, such as an office, a car, or a room in a house,can be controlled through lights, thermostats, and the like.Conventionally, parameters, such as temperature, and lightingconditions, are controlled manually by the user, for example requiringthe user to go to the light or thermostat and adjust to the desiredsetting. More recently, with the Internet of Things (IoT), suchparameters can be controlled through an application on a user computingdevice or other central control. Thus, users can more easily controltheir environment and an intended use or condition, which typically hasbeen for the user's comfort. However, with the ability to controlphysical environmental parameters, this technology can be expanded toprovide additional benefits not currently known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing an example device according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing an example system according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 3A-3C are block diagrams showing example environmental parameteradjustment systems according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4A-4C are flowcharts showing example operations performed by theenvironmental parameter adjustment systems according to embodiments ofthe disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are bestunderstood by referring to the detailed description that follows. Itshould be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identifylike elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, whereinshowings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of thepresent disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Commerce, such as shopping, is shifting from a brick and mortar storebased experience to an online experience. However, online shoppingexperiences are generally limited to what the user device is able todisplay. Thus, traditional techniques of creating a brand based on animmersive shopping experience through a physical experience is lost inthe online environment. Furthermore, each user may respond to physicalexperiences differently. Traditional techniques of creating such aphysical environment do not allow for variations between userpreferences.

The present disclosure describes systems and methods that allow a thirdparty (e.g., a merchant and/or a third party management system) toadjust physical environmental parameters around a user. One or moreconditions that indicate that adjustment of physical environmentalparameters around the user may be detected. Based on the conditions,instructions for adjusting the physical environmental parameters may beprovided to one or more secondary devices around the user that canadjust one or more physical environmental parameters. Such physicalenvironmental parameters may include noises, sounds, music, scents,lighting, temperature, and other parameters. Such techniques or methodsmay be performed without input or with minimal input (e.g., with onlypreferences and location data provided) from the user. In certainembodiments, the user may not have direct control (e.g., may not be ableto determine the exact settings of the adjustments) over the adjustmentof the physical environmental parameters or may have only minimalcontrol (e.g., the user may determine whether adjustment is allowed ornot). Instead, the third party may control such adjustments.

For the purposes of this disclosure, “secondary device” may refer todevices that allow for adjustment of a physical environmental parameter.Such secondary devices may be connected to a user device associated withthe user or to a network. In certain embodiments, the secondary devicemay connect to the user device and detect the presence of the userdevice in an area around the secondary device.

In certain embodiments, the user device, one or more of the secondarydevices, or another device such as a server device may determine thatconditions are met to adjust physical parameters around the user device.Thus, for example, the user device may include one or more applicationsthat can determine when such conditions are met and provide instructionsto adjust physical parameters to the user device itself or to secondarydevices. Such conditions may be determined from input received by one ormore of the user device or the secondary devices. In certain suchembodiments, user control of such applications may be eliminated orminimized and the application itself, rather than user inputs orsettings, may determine when the conditions are met.

In certain embodiments, the systems and techniques of the presentdisclosure allow for improvements in the operation of computer systems.For example, the systems and techniques of the present disclosure mayimprove online shopping experiences by allowing for adjustment of aphysical environment around the user. In certain embodiments, thesystems and techniques described herein may allow for third parties toadjust the physical environment around the user using secondary devices.Multiple secondary devices may be connected into a network to adjust thephysical environment. The creation of such a network may allow for athird party to provide a more personalized physical experience for theuser directed to specific content the user is engaged in within thephysical environment through the user device.

Adjustment of the physical environment may include adjusting lighting,providing a scent, changing the humidity, changing the temperature,providing sounds, and/or providing or changing another aspect of theenvironment. In certain embodiments, the adjustment of the physicalenvironment may also include interactions with the user, such asproviding a massage to the user and/or receiving and responding tofeedback from the user.\

In certain embodiments, the user device, the secondary devices, and/or aserver device may determine that conditions for adjustment of physicalparameters have been met. The user device and/or the server device may,thus, receive signals or inputs from the user device and/or thesecondary device and provide instructions to adjust the physicalparameters. In certain embodiments, the user device and/or the serverdevice may additionally receive signals or inputs from the user deviceand/or the secondary device during adjustment of the physicalparameters. Such inputs may allow for determination of user reactionsand other reactions to the adjustment, and the instructions to adjustthe physical parameters may be modified in response to the reactions,further personalizing the experience. Furthermore, such modifiedresponses may be used in future environmental adjustments. Thus, suchfuture adjustments may be personalized for the user.

Additionally, the presence or absence of certain types of secondarydevices may also be detected. The systems and techniques describedherein allow for improvement of operation of electronic devices byallowing for variation of operation of secondary devices based on thedetermination of the presence or absence of certain devices and thusprovide a more customized physical experience while, for example,compensating for the absence of certain types of devices. Thus,operational flexibility of systems utilizing such devices may beimproved as operation of the devices may be adjusted according toconditions.

Furthermore, the systems and techniques may allow for conservation ofprocessing resources by, for example, allowing for the detection of thepresence of a passive user device within an area and adjusting thephysical parameters of the area without input from the user device.Thus, no affirmative action is required of the user device, conservingbattery life and processing resources of the user device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system according to anembodiment of the disclosure. While FIG. 1 describes certain componentsand systems to perform the techniques described herein, it isappreciated that other embodiments may include additional components,may include fewer components, or may include other components.

FIG. 1 shows a device identification system 100 that includes amanagement system 102, a communications system 104, a network 108, arouter 110, and devices 112A-D. The management system 102 may becommunicatively connected to communications device 104 via acommunications path 120. Communications path 122 may communicativelyconnect communications system 104 to network 108. The network 108 may becommunicatively connected to router 110 and router 110 may becommunicatively connected to devices 112A-D via communications path 124.

Devices 112A-D may include one or more user devices and one or moresecondary devices. The presence of the user device may be detected bythe secondary devices, by router 110, through network 108, or throughother techniques (e.g., by communication of position data directly fromthe user device to management system 102). The secondary devices mayadjust a physical parameter of the area around the user device. Whilethe embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration where alldevices 112A-D first connect to router 110 before then connecting tomanagement system 102, other embodiments, such as the embodiments ofFIGS. 3A-3C, may allow for each device or one or more devices toindividually connect to the management system.

Devices 112A-D may be, for example, a smartphone, a personal dataassistant, a tablet, a wearable electronic device (such as a smartwatchor electronically augmented glasses), a laptop, a desktop, a speaker, adiffuser, a fog machine, a light, a massage chair, a massager, a server,or other electronic device that may receive inputs and/or provideoutputs. One or more of the devices 112A-D may include user interfacesthat may include a combination of one or more display screens, dataentry devices such as a keypad or touch screen, buttons, facial ormovement recognition abilities, or other items that allow a user tointerface with one or more of the devices 112A-D.

Management system 102 may be configured to receive information (e.g.,from the user device, from the secondary device, from one or moredevices within the network, or from other devices) to determine a userinteraction with a merchant. Such user interactions may include the userbrowsing a website of a merchant with the user device, the presence ofthe user device within an area, such as a store or hotel, associatedwith the merchant, through voice commands from the user indicatinginterest in the merchant, or through other techniques. Management system102 may be controlled by the merchant or by a third party managementsystem.

Communications between the various systems described herein may be viaone or more communications paths. The communications paths 120, 122, and124, as well as other communication paths described herein, may be wiredand/or wireless internet communications such as wired internet,broadband, satellite, Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, 4G LTE or other dataconnections, phone and fax enabled communications, as well as othertechniques of communications between devices.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing an example device according to anembodiment of the disclosure. The device of FIG. 2A may be an electronicdevice such as a user device, secondary device, or server device. Theelectronic device of FIG. 2 may utilize a network computing device(e.g., a network server) and communicate data over the network. Itshould be appreciated that each of the devices utilized by users,merchants, management systems, or other parties may be implemented aselectronic device 200 in a manner as follows.

Electronic device 200 includes a bus 202 or other communicationmechanism for communicating information data, signals, and informationbetween various components of electronic device 200. Components includean input/output (I/O) component 204 that can receive or output data. I/Ocomponent 204, which may be comprised of multiple devices, may alsoinclude an output component, such as a display 211 and a cursor control213 (such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, etc.). An optional audioinput/output component 205 may also be included to allow a user to usevoice for inputting information by converting audio signals. Audio I/Ocomponent 205 may receive audio singles (e.g., sound waves emitted bypeople or devices that are nearby). A transceiver or network interface206 transmits and receives signals between electronic device 200 andother devices, such as another electronic device, service device, or aserver via network 180. In one embodiment, the transmission is throughwired or wireless communications techniques, although other transmissionmediums and methods may also be suitable. One or more processors 212,which can be a micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP), orother processing component, processes these various signals, such as fordisplay on electronic device 200 or transmission to other devices via acommunication link 218. Processor(s) 212 may also control transmissionof information, such as cookies or IP addresses, to other devices.

Components of electronic device 200 may also include a system memorycomponent 214 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component 216 (e.g., ROM),and/or a disk drive 217. Electronic device 200 performs specificoperations by processor(s) 212 and other components by executing one ormore sequences of instructions contained in system memory component 214.Logic may be encoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer toany medium that participates in providing instructions to processor(s)212 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but notlimited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.In various embodiments, non-volatile media includes optical or magneticdisks, volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as system memorycomponent 214, and transmission media includes coaxial cables, copperwire, and fiber optics, including wires that comprise bus 202. In oneembodiment, the logic is encoded in non-transitory computer readablemedium. In one example, transmission media may take the form of acousticor light waves, such as those generated during radio wave, optical, andinfrared data communications.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing an example system according to anembodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2B illustrates user device 250,management system 260, and secondary device 252. User device 250 iscommunicatively connected to management system 260 through communicationpath 280 and to secondary device 252 through communication path 292.Secondary device 262 is currently communicatively connected tomanagement system 260 through communication path 282.

User device 250 may include application 261. Application 261 may belocally stored on user device 250 and may receive data from sensors andapplications of user device 250 (as well as secondary device 252 andmanagement system 260). In certain embodiments, application 261 mayreceive data from sensors and applications of user device 250, such asdata from local browsers, local sensors, local applications, and/orlocal positioning systems, without using cloud computing, to determinean intent of the user (e.g., a purchasing intent of the user) andwhether environmental parameters should be adjusted. Application 261 maythen continuously receive data from one or more sensors or otherapplications of user device 250 (e.g., from a web browser of user device250).

Application 261 may receive data indicating that the user of user device250 is about to initiate a transaction. For example, data from the webbrowser may indicate that the user is browsing a site offering purchaseof a product or a service and application 261 may include dataindicating that, while the user may only casually browse sites, theuser's “seriousness” of purchase increases when the user dims thelights. For example, user device 250 may include a light sensor and datastored by user device 250 may indicate that 80% of the user's totalpurchases when using the web browser are made when a light sensorindicates that the environment around the user is dimmed or dark.Application 261 may receive data from the light sensor indicating thatthe user has dimmed the lights in the room and thus determine that alikelihood of purchase is higher for the user.

Additionally, application 261 may provide instructions to and receivesound data from secondary device 252, which may include a speaker andmicrophone. Application 261 may store data that indicates that 75% oftransactions of the user are made when there is no background music. Asapplication 261 has determined that data from the light sensor indicatesthat the lights are dimmed and, thus, the user is seriously shopping,application 261 may additionally provide instructions to turn offbackground music.

Furthermore, application 261 may receive data from the sensors andapplications of user device 250 and secondary device 252 while, forexample, the user continues to browse the site offering purchase of theproduct or service. Application 261 may then modify instructions toadjust environmental parameters based on data received, as describedherein, or may provide data for the transaction. Thus, application 261may determine that, according to stored data, the user prefers to usecredit card A when lights are dimmed and credit card B when lights areturned on. Application 261 may then determine, from data from the lightsensor, that the lights continue to be dimmed and may thus pre-loadpayment data for credit card A for the transaction.

In certain embodiments, the user may utilize a plurality of userdevices. In such embodiments, application 261 may provide or receivedata from one or more other applications of other user devices. Theother user devices may be located proximate user device 250 and theapplications of the plurality of user devices may be linked to determineconditions for and/or adjust the environmental parameters.

FIGS. 3A-3C are block diagrams showing example environmental parameteradjustment systems according to embodiments of the disclosure. FIGS.3A-3C illustrate interactions between management system 360, user device350, and secondary devices 352-356. User device 350 and secondarydevices 352-356 may be any type of electronic device described herein.Thus, for example, user device 350 and secondary devices 352-356 may beone or more of a smartphone, a personal data assistant, a tablet, awearable electronic device (such as a smartwatch or electronicallyaugmented glasses), a laptop, a desktop, a speaker, a diffuser, a fogmachine, a light, a massage chair, a massager, a server, or otherelectronic device that may receive inputs and/or provide outputs. Userdevice 350 may include application 361. Application 361 may beconfigured to determine if conditions to adjust environmental parametersare met, provide environmental rules for adjusting the parameters,determine if there should be modifications for the environmental rulesto adjust the environmental parameters, and determine if transactionsshould be manipulated based on environmental conditions detected.

Secondary devices 352-356 may be configured to adjust an environmentalparameter around user device 350 through rules received from user device350 and/or management system 360. Thus, secondary devices 352-356 may beconfigured to, for example, provide/adjust lighting, scents, humidity,sounds, temperature, and/or any other aspects of the physicalenvironment.

Management system 360 may be an electronic device or a server deviceconfigured to provide instructions to user device 350 and/or secondarydevices 352-356. In certain embodiments, application 361 and/ormanagement system 360 may be controlled by a service provider (e.g., amerchant, a reseller, a hotel, a restaurant or coffee shop, or anotherparty that the user would directly interact with) or a third party(e.g., a third party responsible for providing physical experiences forshoppers for a service provider). Thus, various embodiments may utilizeone or both of management system 360 or application 361 to determine andprovide rules associated with the environment around user device 350.

User device 350 and secondary devices 352-356 are communicativelyconnected to management system 360 via communication paths 380-386,respectively. Furthermore, user device 350 may be communicativelyconnected to secondary devices 352-356 via communication paths 392-396,respectively. The communication paths may be any type of communicationtechnique that allows for wired or wireless communication betweenelectronic devices.

In a certain embodiment, management system 360 or application 361 maydetermine that a user may be interacting with a service provider,interested in a product or service of the service provider, receiving anitem or service provided by the service provider, and/or engaging in anactivity provided by the service provider (e.g., the service provider isa gym and the user has entered a gym location of the service provider).For example, the user, using user device 350, may be browsing a webpageof the service provider (e.g., viewing one or more products from theservice provider's website). In other embodiments, location datareceived from user device 350 may indicate that the user is in a storeor other establishment of the service provider, or the user may bechecking into an establishment owned by the service provider via a webbrowser of user device 350. Certain embodiments may automatically adjustenvironmental parameters (e.g., for a better user experience), whileother embodiments may first receive a user input indicating userinterest in adjusting environmental parameters. In certain suchembodiments, the user input may be an affirmative input (e.g.,requesting the adjustment through operation of user device 350, throughvoice commands, or through another input technique) or may be an impliedinput (e.g., if the user browses to a webpage allowing for an immersiveexperience of the product).

In certain embodiments, management system 360 or application 361 mayfirst determine that, in addition to interacting with the serviceprovider, the user or user device 350 may be located in first area 370.First area 370 may be an area designated or appropriate for adjustmentof environmental parameters (e.g., the user may designate certain areasof the user's residence or the service provider may designate onlycertain areas of a store as areas appropriate for adjustment ofenvironmental parameters). Examples of first area 370 include an office,a room of a house, a room in a hotel, or any other physical locationwhere a user may interact with user device 350 by himself or herself. Inother examples, the location may be where the user may interact withuser device 350 in the presence of others, but may be limited to notexceed a certain number of other users at the time of use. In certainparameters, management system 360 or application 361 may determine iffirst area 370 is appropriate by, for example, determining that no otherusers or devices of other users are present within first area 370 (e.g.,there is no WiFi and/or Bluetooth signal of such devices) or determiningthat no other users are present through audio data received from userdevice 350 or secondary devices 352-356 (e.g., management system 360 orapplication 361 may store a voice trace of the user and determine, fromaudio data received by the devices, whether there are human or animalsounds distinct from the voice trace of the user).

Management system 360 or application 361 may then determine the presenceof one or more secondary devices within a second area 372 around userdevice 350 that is appropriate for environmental parameter adjustment.Second area 372 may be an area where environmental adjustments bysecondary devices may be detected by the user or user device 350, or maybe an area where environmental adjustments may not affect other people,animals, or other objects around user device 350. Thus, while secondarea 372 in certain embodiments may be an area of a preset size orshape, other embodiments may adjust second area 372 depending onfeedback (e.g., if management system 360 or application 361 detects oneor more other people or animals nearby, management system 360 orapplication 361 may adjust second area 372 to not affect the otherpeople or animals) or based on the detected environment (e.g.,management system 360 or application 361 may set second area 372 to bethe size of the room that contains user device 350). Second area 372 maybe part of or within first area 370.

In certain embodiments, management system 360 or application 361 mayreceive location data (e.g., global positioning, triangulation, or otherdata) from user device 350 and environmental rules may be determinedaccording to location data. The location data may indicate that the useris within a specific geographic location, such as the user's home, astore of a merchant's, or a library, or may indicate that the user iswithin a general location. The environmental rules may accordingly bedetermined based on the location data. Thus, certain users may have asetting where, if they are in more temperate areas, such as Washingtonstate, adjustment of the environment around them to more closely mimic aforest is desired.

Management system 360 or application 361 may also receive interactiondata that may, for example, identify a user interaction with the serviceprovider. The interaction data may also identify a product of theservice provider that the user has purchased or is interested in.Further, management system 360 or application 361 may also receive datafrom secondary devices 352-356, such as secondary device dataidentifying one or more secondary devices located in an area (e.g.,second area 372) proximate the user device.

In certain embodiments, interaction data may be received from one ormore of the secondary devices 352-356. For example, the user may enter astore, coffee shop, or hotel room and user device 350 may communicatethat the user is interested in a product to a secondary device withinthe store, or a secondary device may detect the presence of user device350 within the coffee shop or hotel room. The secondary device may thendetermine that user device 350 is in the store because the user isinterested in purchasing an item, that user device 350 is in the coffeeshop because the user is interested in purchasing a coffee, or that theuser has entered the hotel room as the user has a booking. The secondarydevice, which may be connected with other devices, may then communicateinteraction data to management system 360 or application 361 and requestenvironmental rules.

Additionally or alternatively, certain other embodiments may beconfigured to have management system 360 or application 361 receive datafrom user device 350 and/or secondary devices 352-356 in otherconfigurations. For example, one or more secondary devices 352-356 maybe configured to determine the presence of user device 350 within firstarea 370 or second area 372 and may transmit data indicating such tomanagement system 360 or application 361. The secondary devices 352-356may also transmit data to management system 360 or application 361identifying whether they are within or outside first area 370 and/orsecond area 372 according to the position of user device 350. Otherembodiments may utilize user device 350 to detect the presence ofsecondary devices 352-356 within first area 370 or second area 372.

Thus, management system 360 or application 361 may determine that userdevice 350 is within first area 370 and may receive interaction dataindicating that a condition for adjusting the environment has been met(e.g., that the user of user device 350 is interested in or haspurchased a product of or is within an establishment of a merchant thatmanagement system 360 or application 361 is associated with). Managementsystem 360 or application 361 may then determine the presence of one ormore secondary devices within second area 372. Management system 360 orapplication 361 may, for example, compare the location data of userdevice 350 and secondary devices 352-356 to determine which of secondarydevices 352-356 are located within second area 372. Management system360 or application 361 may receive such location data from user device350, secondary devices 352-356, and/or through one or more other devices(e.g., from a router that user device 350 and/or secondary devices352-356 are connected to). While second area 372 described herein may besmaller than first area 370, other embodiments may have second area 372be the same size as or bigger than first area 370.

Management system 360 or application 361 may then determine one or moreenvironmental rules. Such environmental rules may be determined with, orstored within, a rules engine of management system 360 or application361. The rules engine may be part of or in communication with a databasethat includes rules for a plurality of combinations of users, userdevices, secondary devices, service providers, and/or other factors. Forexample, such an environmental rule may be based on the identity of theservice provider, the product that the user is interested in or haspurchased, the identity of the user, the number and type of secondarydevices proximate the user device, the distance of the secondary devicesfrom the user device, and/or other factors.

In certain embodiments, for example, the environmental rules may varydepending on the number and type of secondary devices detected. Forexample, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, secondary device 352may be a speaker, secondary device 354 may be a diffuser, and secondarydevice 356 may be a lighting source. In FIGS. 3A-3C, management system360 or application 361 may determine that user device 350 is interactingwith a first merchant (e.g., is shopping for a sundress appropriate forthe beach) and is within first area 370 and thus an environmentalparameter around the area of user device 350 may be adjusted to providea better and/or more immersive experience for the user. Theenvironmental rule may be provided to the user device 350 and/ordirectly to secondary devices 352-56 (e.g., via one or morecommunication paths 380-86) or may be provided to one or more devicesand served to other devices.

In FIG. 3A, management system 360 or application 361 may determine thatonly secondary devices 352 and 354 are within second area 372 and mayinclude a rule that secondary devices outside of second area 372 shouldnot be operated to adjust the environmental parameter. Thus, managementsystem 360 or application 361, in FIG. 3A, may provide instructions toonly operate secondary devices 352 and 354.

As the user is determined to be interested in a sundress appropriate forthe beach, management system 360 or application 361 may provideinstructions to secondary device 352 to provide the sounds of waves. Incertain such embodiments, management system 360 or application 361 mayinclude stored tracks of sounds of waves and may provide such tracks tosecondary device 352. In other embodiments, secondary device 352 maystore such tracks. In further embodiments, management system 360 orapplication 361 may, to conserve system memory, search for and/ordownload tracks as appropriate or instruct secondary device 352 tosearch for and/or download such tracks. Management system 360 orapplication 361 providing such instructions to secondary device 361 todownload such tracks may, thus, conserve both processing power andsystem memory while allowing for the environment around user device 350to be adjusted.

Secondary device 354 may be a diffuser that includes a plurality ofdispenser clips. Management system 360 or application 361 mayaccordingly provide instructions to secondary device 354 to provide thesmells of salty spray or suntan lotion for a more enjoyable environmentaround user device 350. The provided instructions or secondary device354 may include instructions to select and dispense appropriatedispenser clips to provide such smells (e.g., by combining a pluralityof clips of basic smells). In certain embodiments, while application 361may determine appropriate smells locally on user device 350,instructions for selecting and dispensing the appropriate dispenserclips may be provided by management system 360. Such a configuration mayallow for user device 350, which is local and personal to the user, todetermine smells according to the preferences of the user and protectthe user's private data, while allowing for instructions for dispensing,which is common for all devices, to be centrally stored and accessed bya plurality of devices. Other embodiments may store such instructions onuser device 350 as well, but such instructions may be stored separatefrom the database directed to user preferences.

Management system 360 or application 361 may be configured to provideinstructions appropriate to the service provider or product that theuser is interested in. Thus, management system 360 or application 361may provide other instructions if the user device 350 is browsing otherproducts. For example, if the user device 350 is on a webpage of atravel agency offering a vacation to Germany in winter, managementsystem 360 or application 361 may provide instructions to secondarydevice 352 to provide the sounds of blowing snow or German music and tosecondary device 354 to provide the smells of bratwurst and may, inother embodiments that include other secondary devices, lower atemperature of the environment around user device 350 or turn down thelights to simulate the shorter and darker days. For example, user device350 may connect to an air conditioning unit detected to providetemperature control to the area around user device 350 and operate theair conditioning unit. In certain embodiments, user device 350 mayconnect to secondary devices only as appropriate and may disconnect fromthe devices when instructions are provided to conserve datacommunicated.

Returning to the example of the user interested in the sundress, in FIG.3B, management system 360 or application 361 may determine that userdevice 350 has changed positions. The position of second area 372 mayaccordingly be changed and secondary device 356 may now also be withinsecond area 372. Management system 360 or application 361 may detect thepresence of secondary device 356 within second area 372 and provideinstructions to secondary device 356 to provide white lighting tosimulate a beach. In other embodiments, management system 360 orapplication 361 may also provide updated instructions to secondarydevices 352 and/or 354 to adjust for movement of user device 350 and/oroperation of secondary device 356 (e.g., if secondary device 352 is aspeaker system, outputs of individual speakers may be adjusted tocontinue to provide a surround sound experience to the detected positionof user device 350).

In FIG. 3C, management system 360 or application 361 may determine thatuser device 350, and thus second area 372, has again changed positions.Management system 360 or application 361 may determine that onlysecondary devices 354 and 356 are now within second area 372. Managementsystem 360 or application 361 may then determine that, as secondarydevices 354 and 356 are a diffuser and a lighting source, thecombination of secondary devices 354 and 356 are not appropriate toadjust the environmental parameters in a manner that would improve theuser's experience or immerse the user in the experience. Thus,management system 360 or application 361 may provide instructions forall secondary devices to cease operation. In certain other embodiments,management system 360 or application 361 may continue operatingsecondary devices 354 and 356, but may provide instructions to secondarydevice 352 to cease operating. Additionally or alternatively, previouslyprovided instructions to secondary device 352 may allow secondary device352 to detect that it is outside of second area 372 and cease operatingor user device 350 may detect that secondary device 352 is outside ofthe area and provide instructions to secondary device 352 (based onpreviously provided instructions from management system 360 orapplication 361) to cease operating.

While the embodiments described in FIGS. 3A-3C include both first area370 and second area 372, other embodiments may only include detectingthe user device and secondary devices within one single area. Thus, insuch embodiments, management system 360 or application 361 may notdetect first area 370 at all and the technique may only utilize secondarea 372 for adjusting the environment around user device 350.

FIGS. 4A-4C are flowcharts showing example operations performed by theenvironmental parameter adjustment systems according to embodiments ofthe disclosure. In block 402 of FIG. 4A, the location of a user devicemay be determined. The user device may be determined to be associatedwith the user. The user device may be determined to be within areaswhere adjustment of environmental parameters may be provided. Themanagement system and/or application of the user device may then, inresponse, access databases of environmental rules associated with theuser.

In addition to the example of FIGS. 3A-3C, where such a location may be,for example, within a room or portion of the user's residence, suchlocations where adjustment of environmental parameters may be providedmay, additionally or alternatively, include public areas (e.g., coffeeshops or stores) or semi-public areas (e.g., hotel rooms or rentalproperties). Adjustment of environmental parameters within a public orsemi-public area may allow the user to customize the environment aroundthem through pre-set (e.g., from user input) or inferred (e.g.,determined from user reactions) settings. Accordingly, the user mayenjoy an immersive experience in, for example, a coffee shop or hotelroom once the user has been detected to be in such spaces. Certain suchembodiments may include receiving feedback from, for example, amicrophone or vibration sensor of the user device to determine thepresence or absence of people around the user and adjusting theenvironmental rules or the size of the affected area accordingly, toavoid disturbing others around the user.

In block 404, whether the user is interacting with service providers maybe determined. Such a determination may be through the user device(e.g., through the user surfing a website or providing a voice commandsignaling interest in a product) or through other interactions such asdetecting that the user has walked into a store. Certain embodiments ofthe management system and/or application of the user device may includea plurality of possible service providers, as well as a plurality ofpossible products. The identity of the service provider and/or productthat the user is interacting with may be determined as well.

In block 406, environmental rules may be determined. Such environmentalrules may provide for instructions for one or more secondary devices toadjust an environment around the user and/or user device. Theenvironmental rules may be accessed from a rules engine and may bedetermined based on the identity of the user device, the user, theservice provider, the product, the location, the time of day (e.g.,environmental rules may only be provided for certain times of day, suchas during daytime, and may not be provided for other times, such asduring nighttime, to avoid disturbing others), preferences of theservice provider and/or the user (e.g., certain users may not prefermusic and thus music may not be provided for such users), and/or otherfactors. In certain embodiments, the preferences may be determined frominput provided by the user or may be inferred from stored data directedto user reactions to previous environment adjustments.

For example, a physical environment may be adjusted for all users basedon a determined location and content the user is accessing on the userdevice. However, data may be received that may then personalize thephysical environment for individual users during subsequent times. Forexample, a certain lighting level may be provided, but user A may thenincrease the lighting, user B may decrease the lighting, and user C mayleave the lighting as is. The level of increase or decrease may also beprocessed. Also, the reactions to the changes may be recorded, such asverbal noises from the user, such as “Ahh,” “Nice,” or a negativeexplicative, or physical responses, such as a more relaxed or excitedstate, as measured by biometrics detected through one or more userdevices. Further, the end result may be determined and factored for theeffectiveness of the adjustment, e.g., whether the user completed apurchase or abandoned one. Time of day and day of the year may also be abasis of the adjustment. For example, when it is rainy and cloudyoutside, an environment that mimics a beach or other sunny area may beprovided. As such, different users accessing the same content may beprovided very different physical environments. Personalization ofphysical environments are further described herein.

In block 408, the environmental rules may be provided, directly orindirectly, to one or more secondary devices to adjust the environmentaround the user device. The environment may then be accordingly adjustedin block 410.

FIG. 4B may illustrate a further example of operations performed by theenvironmental parameter adjustment systems. Blocks 422, 424, 430, 432,and 434 may be similar to blocks 402, 404, 406, 408, and 410,respectively, of FIG. 4A.

In block 426, the presence of secondary devices within an area proximatethe user device is determined. The secondary devices may be determinedsimilar to the techniques described in FIGS. 3A-3C, or may be determinedthrough other techniques (e.g., other devices, such as a camera, may beutilized to track physical location of the user, the user device, or thesecondary devices).

In block 428, the types of the secondary devices detected in block 426may be determined. The management system and/or application of the userdevice may, thus, communicate directly with the secondary devices or maycommunicate through an intermediate device such as user device and/or arouter to receive data from the secondary devices that indicate a devicetype. In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the environmental rules determinedby the management system and/or application of the user device may atleast partially be in response to the detected device types. Thus, themanagement system and/or application of the user device may select acertain set of environmental rules based on the detected device types.

FIG. 4C may additionally illustrate another example of operationsperformed by the environmental parameter adjustment systems. Blocks 442,444, 446, 448, and 450 may be similar to blocks 402, 404, 406, 408, and410, respectively, of FIG. 4A.

In block 452, feedback may be received. Such feedback may includefeedback data received from the user device, the secondary devices,and/or another device within the vicinity of the user and may includeuser reaction to the environmental adjustment. For example, in a certainembodiment, a microphone of the user device, secondary device, oranother device may record a verbal response from the user indicatingapproval or disapproval of the environmental adjustment. Such data fromthe microphone may then be provided to the management system and/orapplication of the user device and the management system and/orapplication of the user device may then determine, from the microphonedata, whether the environmental rules should be modified (e.g., themicrophone data may indicate that the user is dissatisfied with Hawaiianmusic provided by a secondary device and the management system and/orapplication of the user device may then accordingly change or eliminatethe music provided).

In certain other embodiments, feedback data may include other forms ofdata. For example, the user may input his or her own reaction throughone or more interfaces on the mobile device (e.g., by filling out asurvey or directly speaking to the mobile device to indicate approval ordisapproval). Other embodiments may adjust the environmental rules basedon other behavior of the user. Thus, the management system and/orapplication of the user device may determine that the user is moreresponsive to dim lighting by determining that the user has a higherrate of purchase of products when dim lighting is provided and/or thatbiometric sensors indicate that the user is more alert through, forexample, higher blood flow rate or heart rate. Thus, the managementsystem and/or application of the user device may accordingly favor dimlighting for that particular user and provide instructions to dim thelighting around the user for more service providers and/or products, ascompared to the rate of dimmed lighting for other users.

In block 454, whether the environmental rules need to be adjusted may bedetermined. In certain embodiments, if management system and/orapplication of the user device receives negative feedback from the user,on-the-fly adjustment of the environmental rules may be provided. Thus,for example, the management system and/or application of the user devicemay provide a feedback ranking to any user feedback received and mayalso adjust the ranking based on the intensity of the feedback.Accordingly, the management system and/or application of the user devicemay rank user feedback on a scale of −10 to +10, with −10 being the mostnegative and +10 being the most positive. A certain secondary device maybe a camera and may record images of the user's face. A smile by theuser may typically be ranked as a +3, but a large grin may be ranked +6.However, a verbal comment of “I don't like this” may be ranked a −4, andif the user is detected to get off his chair, it may be ranked a −8. Themanagement system and/or application of the user device may beconfigured to only adjust the environmental rules if negative userfeedback greater than −6 is detected.

In a certain example, the user may be detected to leave his chair,typically indicating that environmental rules should be adjusted. Forexample, the user device may include an accelerometer and accelerometerdata may indicate that the user has left a sitting position. In certainembodiments, the user device may be communicatively connected to abiometric device. Such biometric devices may be a secondary deviceconfigured to detect one or more biometric signals of the user todetermine user reactions. Such biometric devices may or may not beconfigured to adjust environment parameters. Accordingly, such biometricdevices may determine, through accelerometer data, that the user hasmoved and determined that the biometric device has moved upward andforward and, thus, the user has left his chair.

Additionally, one or more camera equipped secondary devices maydetermine that the user has a smile on his face. Such a camera mayinclude image recognition software to map a user's mouth. Such softwaremay be included on the secondary device or the user device and may nottransmit such images to the management system to protect the user'sprivacy.

The application of the user device may be configured to ignore thenegative feedback upon detection of the smile or may be configured tosum the feedback of −8 and +3 to arrive at a feedback score of −5. As −5is a less negative feedback score than the threshold of −6, theenvironmental rules may not be adjusted. However, feedback may be storedfor future reference and modification or construction of futureenvironmental rule sets.

Thus, even if environmental rules are not immediately adjusted, feedbackreceived may be used to customize environmental rules associated withthe user. For example, the user history of a user may indicate that theuser favors hip hop music from, for example, the online playlist of theuser. Accordingly, environmental rules may be adjusted to provide morehip hop music. Certain such embodiments may, for example, includeenvironmental rules simulating a multitude of environments and suchenvironments may, for music, be indicated to be “hip hop required,” “hiphop optional,” or “hip hop prohibited.” For normal users, hip hop musicmay only be played for environments that are “hip hop required.”However, for users that favor hip hop music, hip hop music may be playedfor both “hip hop required” and “hip hop optional” environments.

As another example, certain management systems and/or applications ofthe user devices may note verbal instances of approval or disapproval.In one such example, the management system or application of the userdevice may begin monitoring user actions when an environmentaladjustment has commenced. The management system and/or application ofthe user device may receive data that signal approval or disapproval.Such data may be weighted and tabulated to determine if adjustments areneeded. In certain embodiments, the weighting may change upon the user.Thus, if data indicates that the user more verbally signals approval ordisapproval (e.g., through higher purchase rates or closing of browserpurchases when verbal approval or disapproval, respectively, isprovided) the management system and/or application of user device mayprovide a higher weight to such verbal data. If approval or disapprovalis higher than a threshold amount, the environmental rules may beaccordingly modified. Such modified rules may then be provided to thesecondary devices.

As an additional example, certain environmental rules can be modifiedbased on user preferences, even if such modifications may request in anexperience different from the real-world experience that it is based.Thus, a user may be noted to continuously set his humidifier so that hisroom has high humidity via sensors of the user device and/or thesecondary device or through settings provided to the user device fromthe humidifier through a communicative connection between the userdevice and the humidifier. The management system and/or application ofthe user device may then infer that the user generally prefers a humidenvironment. Accordingly, when the user is browsing a website for awinter getaway, the humidifier may still be operated to provide a humidenvironment even though snowy environments are dry. Further, if the userdoes book such a getaway, the lodgings of the user may be configured toprovide a more humid room once the user has been detected to enter theroom.

Accordingly, environmental rules can be adjusted, in real-time or forfuture instances, through a variety of techniques. If environmentalrules do not need to be adjusted, the technique may proceed to block 462and the devices may continue operating. However, if the environmentalrules do need to be adjusted, the technique may proceed to block 456.

In block 456, the environmental rule is adjusted. In certainembodiments, the management system and/or application of the user devicemay attempt to determine which of the adjustments the user likes ordislikes. The adjustments that the user likes may then be amplified andthe adjustments that the user dislikes may be diminished or eliminated.The management system and/or application of the user device may onlyamplify, diminish, or eliminate adjustments where the user feedbackexceeds a certain threshold. In certain situations, if adjustments areunacceptable from an experience point of view or if the environmentaladjustments are very poorly received by the user (e.g., through afeedback score of −10), the management system and/or application of theuser device may instruct all secondary devices to cease operating andaffecting the environment around the user.

Accordingly, in certain such embodiments, the management system and/orapplication of the user device may process such adjustments throughlogic that determines whether such adjustments are acceptable for theexperience that the service provider wishes to convey. If theadjustments are unacceptable, the adjustments may not be performed.Thus, a hotel operator located within the Alps may mandate that freshmountain air scent must be provided, or else no environmentaladjustments may be performed. Other embodiments, such as embodimentswhere the user may input their own preferences, may also determinewhether modifications to the environmental rules allow for an acceptableexperience and, if they do not allow for an acceptable experience, maynot communicate environmental rules at all.

In block 458, the adjusted environmental rules are provided to thesecondary devices, directly or indirectly. Further, certain managementsystem and/or application of the user devices may provide theenvironmental rules to the user device and allow the user device toadjust the environmental rules (e.g., according to feedback received bythe user device). The user device may then directly communicate suchmodified environmental rules to one or more secondary devices, eitherthrough instructions from the management system and/or application ofthe user device that causes the user device to communicatively connectto the one or more secondary devices or through pre-existing connectionsbetween the user device and the secondary devices. Such a configurationmay allow for direct user or user device modification of the rules,increasing customization, decreasing privacy fears (e.g., managementsystem and/or application of the user device may not receive feedbackdata from the user at all and feedback and adjustment may be exclusivelyperformed by the user's own device), and/or decreasing processingrequirements of the management system and/or application of the userdevice as modifications to the environmental are performed by the userdevice.

In certain such embodiments, the user device and/or other devices maystore its own modification table to the environmental rules based onuser preferences. The management system and/or application of the userdevice may thus store a basic rule set common to all devices, and therule set may be communicated to the user device and/or other devices formodification before environmental parameters are adjusted.

After the secondary device receives the adjusted environmental rules,the secondary device may then affect the environment around the user oruser device according to the environmental rules in block 460. Fromblocks 460 and 462, the technique may then return to block 452 toperform continuously monitoring of feedback to allow for an optimal userexperience.

Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosuremay be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardwareand software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware componentsand/or software components set forth herein may be combined intocomposite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable,the various hardware components and/or software components set forthherein may be separated into sub-components comprising software,hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated thatsoftware components may be implemented as hardware components andvice-versa.

Software in accordance with the present disclosure, such as program codeand/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readable mediums. Itis also contemplated that software identified herein may be implementedusing one or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/orcomputer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, theordering of various steps described herein may be changed, combined intocomposite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide featuresdescribed herein.

The various features and steps described herein may be implemented assystems comprising one or more memories storing various informationdescribed herein and one or more processors coupled to the one or morememories and a network, wherein the one or more processors are operableto perform steps as described herein, as non-transitory machine-readablemedium comprising a plurality of machine-readable instructions which,when executed by one or more processors, are adapted to cause the one ormore processors to perform a method comprising steps described herein,and methods performed by one or more devices, such as a hardwareprocessor, user device, server, and other devices described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a non-transitory memory; andone or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory andconfigured to read instructions from the non-transitory memory to causethe system to perform operations comprising: receiving interaction dataindicating a user interaction with a merchant; determining, from theinteraction data, an identity of the merchant and a product associatedwith the user interaction; receiving, in response to the receiving thedata indicating the user interaction with the merchant, secondary devicedata identifying a secondary device located in an area proximate an userdevice; automatically determining, with a rules engine, an environmentalrule based on the merchant and the product; and communicating theenvironmental rule to the secondary device to cause the secondary deviceto adjust a physical environment of the area proximate the user device.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the product is a first product, therules engine is configured to store a first environmental ruleassociated with a first product and a second environmental ruleassociated with a second product, and wherein the automaticallydetermining the environmental rule comprises selecting the firstenvironmental rule based on determining that the user interaction isassociated with the first product.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein theuser interaction comprises browsing a merchant web site.
 4. The systemof claim 1, wherein the environmental rule comprises one or more rulesfor providing lighting, providing sound, or providing a scent.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the environmental rule comprises a rule forproviding a sound and the operations further comprise: receiving, afterthe communicating the environmental rule, microphone data; adjusting,based on the microphone data, the environmental rule; and communicatingthe adjusted environmental rule to the secondary device.
 6. The systemof claim 1, wherein the environmental rule is a first environmentalrule, wherein the secondary device is a first secondary device, andwherein the operations further comprise: receiving updated secondarydevice data identifying a second secondary device located in the areaproximate the user device; automatically determining, with the rulesengine, a second environmental rule based on the merchant and theproduct; and communicating, to the second secondary device, the secondenvironmental rule.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondarydevice data comprises device type data, and wherein the operationsfurther comprise: automatically determining, based on the device typedata, a device type for the secondary device, wherein the automaticallydetermining the environmental rule is further based on the determineddevice type.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise: determining a time of day, wherein the environmental rulecomprises a first environmental rule associated with a first time of dayand a second environmental rule associated with a second time of day,and wherein the automatically determining the environmental rulecomprises selecting the first environmental rule or the secondenvironmental rule based on the time of day.
 9. A method comprising:receiving, with a user device, data indicating a user interaction with asecondary device of a service provider; determining, from theinteraction data, that the secondary device is located in an areaproximate the user device; determining, from the interaction data, anidentity of the service provider and a product associated with the userinteraction; communicating an environmental rule associated with theservice provider and the product to cause the secondary device to adjusta physical parameter of the area proximate the user device; receiving,in response to the communicating the environmental rule, feedback dataindicating a user reaction to the adjustment of the physical parameter;and updating the environmental rule based on the feedback data.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the environmental rule is communicated to thesecondary device, wherein the feedback data comprises microphone data,and wherein the method further comprises: communicating the updatedenvironmental rule to the secondary device.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the feedback data comprises data indicating a user interactionwith a feedback screen shown on a display of the user device.
 12. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the environmental rule comprises a firstenvironmental rule set and a second environmental rule set, and whereinthe method further comprises: determining a presence of a plurality ofsecondary devices located in the area proximate the user device;determining a device type for each of the plurality of secondarydevices; and selecting the first environmental rule set based on thedevice types of the plurality of secondary devices, wherein thecommunicating the environmental rule comprises communicating at leastportions of the first environmental rule set to each of the secondarydevices.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining,after the determining the presence of the plurality of secondarydevices, an absence of at least one of the plurality of the secondarydevices in the area proximate the user device; selecting the secondenvironmental rule set in response to the determining the absence of theat least one of the plurality of secondary devices; and communicating atleast portions of the second environmental rule set to each remainingsecondary device.
 14. A non-transitory machine-readable medium havingstored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause amachine to perform operations comprising: receiving an indication that auser is interested in or has purchased a product; receiving, from afirst device, proximity data indicating that a user device is located inan area proximate the first device, wherein the area is associated withthe product; receiving, from the user device, identity data;automatically determining, from the identity data, that the user deviceis associated with the user; automatically determining, an operationalrule for the first device based on the indication and the determinationthat the user device is associated with the user; and communicating theoperational rule to the first device to cause the first device to adjusta physical environment of the area proximate the user device.
 15. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein theoperational rule comprises a first operational rule and a secondoperational rule, and wherein the operations further comprise:determining a global position of the area; and selecting one of thefirst operational rule or the second operational rule based on theglobal position of the area, wherein the operational rule is determinedbased on the selection of one of the first operational rule or thesecond operational rule.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumof claim 14, wherein the area is a public or semi-public space.
 17. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein theoperations further comprise: receiving, after the communicating theoperational rule and within a first time period, feedback data;adjusting, based on the feedback data, the operational rule; andcommunicating the adjusted operational rule to the first device.
 18. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein theoperations further comprise: communicating instructions to one or moreof the user device or the first device to cause the user device and thefirst device to communicatively connect with each other; andcommunicating the operational rule to the user device, wherein theoperational rule is configured to be adjustable by the user device andconfigured to be communicated by the user device to the first device.19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein thefeedback data is received from the first device.
 20. The non-transitorymachine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operational rule ispre-determined based on previously obtained feedback data.